Friday, March 25, 2016

MINERSVILLE, PA. -- There are not many things that Billy Pauch, Jr. can say that he has accomplished in racing that his legendary father Billy Pauch, Sr. has not.

Winning the Big Diamond 358 modified track title is one of them.

The 28-year-old used consistency last year while scoring one win en route to his first-ever modified track title after coming very close to winning the title in 2014.

“We have had two good years in a row and we are hoping that we are as good as we have been and that we can get more wins than we have had in the last two years,” Pauch Jr. said.

The third-generation racer who scored his first-ever modified win at the track in 2006 will look to make it two straight titles as the CJ’s Automotive & Tire Services 358 modifieds open the 2016 season on Friday, April 1, with the 30-lap feature paying $4,000 to win.

The U.S.S. Achey sportsman, Savage 61 roadrunners and 600 modifieds will round out the four-division racing card. The 20-lap sportsman feature pays $1,000 to win while the roadrunner feature pays $300 to win.

Pauch, Jr. experienced the highs and lows of life during the off season.

He and his wife Michelle welcomed their first child, a son, William Arthur on Dec. 31, 2015. He lost both of his grandfathers including the patriarch of the family, Roy Pauch, on March 7.

“He was a huge part of my racing,” Pauch, Jr. said of Roy. “He spent a lot of time with me and he was at the Diamond a lot on Friday nights. I don’t know who will yell at me but someone sure will.”

Pauch, Jr. said the one piece of advice that has stayed with him from Roy is that the most motor doesn’t win.

“When the track gets slick, you have to de-tune the motor and not spin your wheels,” he said.

The 2016 season will see Pauch, Jr. once again pilot his own car.

“We built a brand new car and we have two fresh motors and we gained a sponsor; that’s huge,” he said. “We’re in a better position to compete and hopefully it will show a little bit more this year. We’re ready to tackle the title defense but we’ll see how things go after the early part of the year.”

“I think the competition is going to be a little bit tougher this season,” he continued. “We’ll seen when June comes around as to who is still there and we’ll adjust our competition level.”

The gates will open at 5:30 p.m. on April 1 with warm ups at 7:45 and racing at 8:15. General admission is $20 while kids 12 and under and active military with a VALID ID, are free.

Coming up on Friday, April 8 will be the Money in the Mountain race as the CJ's Tire & Automotive Services358 modifieds race 40 laps for $5,000.